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A LOAN 
EXHIBITION 


OF THE 


Earliest Known Portraits 
of Americans Painted in 
This Country by Painters 
of the Seventeenth and 
Eighteenth Centuries 


THE CENTURY ASSOCIATION 
NEW YORK 
NOVEMBER 7TH TO 29TH INCLUSIVE 


1925 


MIC. . 


EXHIBITION of PORTRAITS 
By 
EARLY AMERICAN ARTISTS 


ARTISTS REPRESENTED 


Benbridge,Henry. . ... . . . .. I1/44—-4812 
Couturier, Henti 2.0.0) 2 0 a 
Delanoy, Abraham ... . . . 18th Century 
Duyckinck, Evert, Ist .. ..) > 9) Gg 
Duyckinck, Gerret) ..... . ). “02 O60-=Ia 
Duyckinck, Evert, 3rd... |.) ee 
Duyckinck,Gerardus ... . . . 1695-1742 
Malbone, Edward G.°. 2 ee 
Mare, John 2... oe 
Read, William. . . ~ . . « 1607-1679 
Smibert, John (two igeneey . ON Se GR ae 
Vanderlyn, Pieter ..). . |.) 2) eee 
Watson, John...) 8. ee 
Wollaston, John... . +). Ee 
x 


THE CENTURY ASSOCIATION 


NEW YORK 
NOVEMBER 7TH To 29TH, 1925 


CATALOGUE 


1 


JAMES pELANCEY 
(1732-1800) 


STATESMAN AND CAPITALIST 
Painted in 1772 


James deLancey was the eldest son of Lieut.-Gov. James 
deLancey and his wife Ann Heathcote deLancey. He was born 
in 1732 and died in 1800. He was educated at Eton and Cam- 
bridge and entered the Army on his return to New York at the 
beginning of the French and Indian War. He served at Fort 
Niagara and was aide to Gen. Abercrombie at Ticonderoga. At 
his father’s death in 1760 he retired from the Army to manage 
his estate and enter politics. He was then the richest man in 
America and the head of the Conservatives, called after him the 
deLancey Party. 


by Henry Benbridge (1744-1812) 


Henry Benbridge was born in Philadelphia,.May 20, 1744, 
and died in February, 1812. At an early age he went to Italy, 
where he studied under Battoni and under Mengs, and pro- 
gressed so well that in 1768 he was sent to Corsica, on the order 
of James Boswell, of Auchinleck, to paint a whole length por- 
trait of Gen. Pascal Paoli, which Benbridge, on reaching London 
the following year, exhibited at the Free Society of Artists. 
While in London, Benbridge painted a portrait of Doctor 
Franklin which, with another portrait, he exhibited at the Royal 
Academy in 1770. Later he returned to Philadelphia, and on 
January 18, 1771, he was elected a member of the American 
Philosophical Society. Benbridge settled in Charleston, S. C., 
where he painted many of the portraits of women found in the 
South attributed to Copley. 


2 


STEPHEN pELANCEY 
(1663-1741) 


He was the original owner of Fraunces Tavern, New York 
City. Trinity Church received its first tower clock from him, 
and New York City’s first fire engine was the joint gift of him- 
self and his partner. A prominent merchant, was active in 
public affairs, and became a social leader. 





Painted in 1734 
by John Smibert (1688-1751) 


Smibert was a Scottish painter, born in Edinburgh, in 1688, 
who joined Bishop Berkeley in the dream of founding a universal 
college in the Bermudas, and arrived at Newport, Rhode Island, 
in 1729. The dream collapsing, he settled in Boston, taking there 
with him many copies he had made of European old masters, 
which, with his other works, had an influence on Allston, which 
Allston acknowledged. He probably also had an influence on 
Copley, who was fourteen when Smibert died. It has been said 
of Smibert, ‘““The best portraits we have of eminent magistrates 
and divines of New England and New York who lived between 
1729 and 1751 are from his pencil.”’ Smibert died in Boston, 
in 1751. 


3 


ANNE VAN CORTLANDT 
(MRS, STEPHEN DELANCEY) 
(1676-1741) 


Anne Van Cortlandt was the daughter of Stephanus and 
Gertrude Schuyler Van Cortlandt. She was born in 1676 and 
died in 1741. In 1700 she married Stephen deLancey. This 
portrait of her resembles very strongly those of her sisters, 
Elizabeth, wife of the Rev. William Skinner of Perth Amboy, 
and Gertrude, wife of Col. Henry Beekman, which are repro- 
duced in the “Manor of Van Cortlandt.” 

The portrait is signed and dated Gt. Duyckinck, 1699. The 
latter date was the year previous to her marriage to Stephen 
deLancey and the year before the death of her father Stephanus 
Van Cortlandt whose portrait was paintee in 1693 by Evert 
Duyckinck, the father of Gerret. 


Painted in 1699 
by Gerret Duyckinck (1660-1710) 


Gerret Duyckinck was the son of Evert Duyckinck and was 
baptized April 11, 1660. He married Maria Abeel of Albany, 
July 6, 1683, and resided in Hough (now Stone Street). For 
many years he was assistant Alderman and in 1689 became 
identified with Leisler’s government as a member of his council, 
and was prominent during those exciting times. Leisler ap- 
pointed him Captain of foot for the North Ward of New York 
on December 16, 1689, and in 1690 a member of the Court of 


<a Lan. 


Admiralty. He was admitted as a freeman of the city in 1699. 
Gerret Duyckinck is referred to by Jasper Dankers, a Labadist 
Father in his diary under date of March 7, 1679, as follows: 
“They had built a new church in the Hysopus, of which the 
glass had been made and painted in the City, by the father of 
our mate, Evert Duiken, whose other son, Gerret, did most of 
the work. This Gerret Duiken had to take the glass to the 
Hysopus, and having heard we had a mind to go there, he 
requested our company, which we would not refuse him when 
the time came. He promised to teach me to draw.” 

And again when he landed at the Hysopus on May 7th he 
“found Gerret, the glass maker, there with his sister. He was 
engaged putting the glass in their new church.” 

He died about 1710, having attained a position of consider- 
able social, financial and political importance. 


4 
SUSANNAH peELANCEY WARREN 
(Died 1771) 


Lady Warren was the daughter of Stephen and 
Anne Van Cortlandt deLancey. Married 
Sir Peter Warren in 1731 


Painted in 1746 
by John Smibert ( 1688-1751) 


Smibert was a Scottish painter, born in Edinburgh, in 1688, 
who joined Bishop Berkeley in the dream of founding a universal 
college in the Bermudas, and arrived at Newport, Rhode Island, 
in 1729. The dream collapsing, he settled in Boston, taking there 
with him many copies he had made of European old masters, 
which, with his other works, had an influence on Allston, which 
Allston acknowledged. He probably also had an influence on 
Copley, who was fourteen when Smibert died. It has been said 

-of Smibert, ‘The best portraits we have of eminent magistrates 
and divines of New Egland and New York who lived between 
1729 and 1751 are from his pencil.” Smibert died in Boston, 
in: 1751; 


5 


JOHANNES VAN VECHTEN 
(1676-1742) 


Painted in 1719 
by Pieter Vanderlyn (1687-1778) 


This portrait of Johannes Van Vechten, 1676-1742, was 
painted when the subject was 43 years of age. The bulletin of 
the New York Historical Society of October, 1921, names 
Pieter Vanderlyn as the painter of the New York State portraits 
long unrecognized. Nearly forty portraits have been located 
among descendants of early Dutch families in this country. 
This painting of Johannes Van Vechten is the first one ever 
publicly shown with the attribution as given here. The noted 
American portrait painter, John Vanderlyn, 1775-1852, was 
the grandson of Pieter Vanderlyn. 


6 


RICHARD BELLINGHAM 
(1592-1672) 


GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS 
1641—1656—1665-1672 


Earliest known portrait painted in this country 
Boston, 1641 


by William Read (1607-1679) 


The portrait is signed: 


Govr. R. Bellingham, Effiegies 
Delin. Boston Anno Dom. 1641 
‘Etatis 49, W. R. 


In the search for the name of an artist whose initials are 
W. R., capable of doing artistic work, it has been discovered 
that the name of William Read of Boston is mentioned in the 
“Minutes of the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay 
Colony,” Vol. IV. Page 145, May 3, 1665: 

This Court doeth order and appoint Capt. Edward Johnson 
and Mr. William Stephens to draw up a mapp of this colony, 
which they are to do with the greatest care, to call in and make 
use of what artists they shall judge needful; the charge whereof 
is to be defrayed by the County Treasurer. 





7) 


That he was the artist selected appears from the following: 
Page 155, June 1, 1665: 

This Court having employed Mr. William Read of Boston 
together with some other gentlemen of the Court to draw an 
exact mapp of his Majestie’s Colonie of the Massachusetts, 
which accordingly he hath effected, in consideration whereof, 
this Court doeth order the County Treasurer to pay to the said 
Mr. Read the sum of ten pounds in the best pay that is in his 
hands, upon the delivery of one draught more than he hath 
already given unto this Court. 

Of the various William Reads in the Colony at that time; 
William Read of Woburn was illiterate, William Read of Wey- 
mouth was a farmer, another William Read was a sea captain; 
this leaves only one other who could possibly be considered; 

William Read of Batcombe, England, who came over in 1635 
and settled in Weymouth, Massachusetts. In 1636 he was 
elected Deputy to the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay 
Colonie; a rather important office for a man only 29 years of 
age; but it brought him in touch with Richard Bellingham who 
was a member of the same Court from the year of his arrival 
till his death in 1672, and who had large real estate holdings in 
Weymouth. This acquaintance was strengthened by both being 
members together in the First Church of Boston for 26 years. 

William Read lived in Weymouth till 1646, then in Boston 
till 1674, and died at or near Norwich, Connecticut, 1679. 

Richard Bellingham was elected Governor of the Massachu- 
setts Bay Colonie, 1641, the year his portrait was painted as 
appears lettered on the back of the canvas, which fortunately 
has never been relined. 


Ope 


7 


ANN SINCLAIR CROMMELIN 
(1691-1743) 


DAUGHTER OF MARYKEN DUYCKINCK 
Painted in 1725 
by Evert Duyckinck, 3rd (1677-1727) 


Evert Duyckinck, 3rd, was born in 1677 and died in 1727. 
He was the son of Evert Duyckinck, 2nd. The artist and subject 
of this portrait, Ann Sinclair Crommelin, were first cousins and 
were both grandchildren of Evert Duyckinck, Ist. The Duyck- 
incks were the most important family of painters yet found in 
Colonial America. 


8 


PETER R. LIVINGSTON 
(1737-1794) 
PRESIDENT OF THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 
1770-1777 
MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY, 1780-1781 
COLONEL OF MILITIA FROM THE MANOR 


OF LIVINGSTON DURING THE 
REVOLUTIONARY WAR 


Painted in 1772 
by Abraham Delanoy (circa 1740-1785 ) 


Abraham Delanoy a native of New York was born about 
1740. Studied art under Benjamin West in London and in 
January, 1771, advertised his profession as a portrait painter 
in New York. He died in 1785 or 1786. 

We know that the family of Col. Peter R. Livingston and that 
of Delanoy were known to each other as Col. Peter’s son, Peter 
W. Livingston, married Elizabeth Beekman, a relative of the 
artist Abraham Delanoy. She was a daughter of Gerard William 
Beekman and a granddaughter of William Beekman and 
Catherine Peters Delanoy. The latter was the daughter of 
Abraham Delanoy and Cornelia Jacobse Toll, widow of Evert 
Duyckinck, 2nd. 


9 


ROBERT MONCKTON 
(1726-1782) 
_ GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, 1761 
Painted in 1761 
by John Mare 


The marriage record of John Mare and Mary Bes in 1738 
in New York appears in the New York Genealogical and Bio- 
graphical Society Collection, Vol. I., page 162. It is in a list of — 
marriages in the Reformed Dutch Church, New York. This is 
no doubt the record of the marriage of the parents of the artist, 
John Mare. As the artist is mentioned first in his father’s will, 
he was very likely the oldest child. If he was born the year 


|, 


following their marriage, he would have been twenty-two years 
of age when he painted the portrait of Governor Monckton. 
The following record of a mortgage on the property of John 
Mare, Jr., is recorded in the New York County Mortgages, 
Liber No. 2, page 503, Hall of Records, New York: 

“Registered and at the request of Mr. Ennis Graham of the 
City of New York, this 10th Day of March, Anno Domini 1772. 

“Memorandum that on the fourth day of December in the 
year of our Lord one thousand, seven hundred and seventy-one, 
John Mare of the City of New York, Portrait Painter, did mort- 
gage to Ennis Graham of the said city, lot of ground lying and 
being in the City of New York in the community called Mul- 
berry Street, Northerly by land belonging to Obadiah Wells, 
Easterly by land the property of John Killman and Southerly 
by a lot of ground belonging to Archibald Gatfield.” 

The land described in the above memorandum was No. 18 
Mulberry Street, before 1817. It is called today Lot No. 61. 
It was in the Outward of the city of New York in the block, 
at that time bounded on the west by Mulberry Street (formerly 
Catherine Street) on the north by Cross Street (now Park 
Street) and on the east by Mott Street. 

John Mare, Senior, who made his will in 1761, devising prop- 
erty in the Outward, gave a mortgage in 1761 on land in this 
same block and apparently on the same lot or the one adjoining. 

This mortgage is recorded in New York County Mortgages, 
Liber No. 1, page 252, Hall of Records, New York. This mort- 
gage was given to Andrew Marcellus, dated December 7, 1761. 
It was on Mulberry Street, Lot No. 38 (old number) and is Lot 
No. 61 today. : 

By comparing these records it will be seen that the John 
Mare, who made his will in 1761, was actually the father of 
John Mare, Jr., Limner. This same Mare property is referred 
to in Stuyvesant Deeds in 1796 in the conveyance of Lot No. 
22 on Mott Street. Lot No. 22 is described as adjoining “‘in the 
rear Lot No. 39, lately belonging to John Mare.” 

This is the fourth portrait and the earliest one by John Mare 
thus far identified. The three others were painted in 1766, 1767 
and 1768. 





10 


OLOFF STEVENSE VAN CORTLANDT 
(1610-1684) 


PROMINENT IN THE EARLY LIFE OF 
NEW AMSTERDAM 


Oloff Stevense Van Cortlandt, founder of the family, arrived 
in New Amsterdam, March 28, 1638, on board the Haering, a 
man of war belonging to the West India Company. He was a 
soldier in the service of the company but did not remain long in 
this capacity as he was shortly promoted by his friend and 
fellow traveler, Director Kieft, to the post of Commissary of 
Cargoes (July 1639). In 1649, his experience as a soldier-was 
of service when he became captain of the Burger guard, or 
train band. 

Through his long career, he held many public offices begin- 
ning in 1645 when he became a member of the Board of Eight 
Men and in 1649 of the Nine Men of which he became presi- 
dent. In 1654 and 1655 he was Schepen, the next year he 
became Burgomaster, which office he held intermittently until 
1665 after the capture by the English. 

In 1666, 1667 and 1673 he was Alderman. He also served 
on several commissions notably that which negotiated the terms 
of surrender to the English in 1664, the Hartford settlement 
of the Connecticut boundary dispute in 1663 and John Scott’s 
claim to Long Island in 1664. 

This portrait of him is signed like that of his son-in-law 
Phillipse, with the monogram of the artist, Henri Couturier, 
which also may be seen on a ship register dated May 5, 1663, 
by which Couturier acknowledged the receipt of goods deliv- 
ered to him. 


by Henri Couturier (Died 1684) 


According to the lettering on this portrait it was painted and 
signed by the monogram interlaced, the first two 
initials being those of the ¢ artist Couturier. Searching 
for proof that the portrait was by him, this monogram 
was found on a ship register of a “list of goods” sent to New 
Amstel on the South River of New Netherland on May 5, 
1663 from Amsterdam. In the margin next to the entry con- 
cerning the shipment of goods from Jacob Coetrier to Hendrick 
Coetrier is the reproduction of this monogram. It was evidently 
placed there in acknowledgment of the receipt of goods, just as 
today we sign for the delivery of goods by express, etc. Nearly 


a 7 


all the other items in this list are initialed in this manner by 
the recipients. Jacob Coetrier was the son of the’artist, and is 
listed as his second son in the baptismal records of the Reformed 
Dutch Church, New York. Couturier’s children appear to have 
been mature at the date of baptism as all three were baptized 
on the same day. This fact is supported by the reference to 
Jacob consigning goods to his father in 1663, the year after he 
was baptized and also by the record of Isaac, the artist’s oldest 
son signing the Remonstrance to the Director-General in 1664. 
These children may have been born abroad, or perhaps in Dela- 
ware, where their father spent a great part of his life and be- 
came a distinguished citizen, holding office of Councillor and 
Burgomaster of that province. This would account for their 
not having been baptized earlier. 

The various spellings of the name are very confusing, ex- 
tracts copied from documents have been found with the name 
spelled two different ways even in the same document. He 
died in 1684. 


11 


JAMES pELANCEY 
(1703-1760) 


CHIEF JUSTICE AND LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR 
OF THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK 


Painted in 1728 
by Gerardus Duyckinck (1695-1742) 


Gerardus Duyckinck was the son of Gerret Duyckinck (1660- 
1710). He was baptized June 19, 1695, and was married to 
Johanna Van Brugh, August 21, 1720. He was admitted as a 
freeman of the city in 1731 and there described as a limner. 
He died November 5, 1742. 


12 2 


MARGARET MARIA LIVINSTON 
(1783-1818) 


Margaret Maria Livingston was the daughter of Chancellor 
Robert R. and Mary Stevens Livingston. She was born in 1783 
and died in 1818. She was said to be very beautiful; Kotzebue, 
the German dramatic poet, saw her in Paris with her father and 
he speaks of her in his memoirs as the ‘“‘youngest sister of Venus” 
(Livingstons of Livingston Manor, page 483). 


ETT 


by Edward G. Malbone (1777-1807) 


Edward G. Malbone, miniature painter was born in Newport, 
Rhode Island, August, 1777; received some instruction from a 
local scene painter, and painted in his sixteenth year a portrait 
of considerable merit; established himself in. Boston as a minia- 
ture painter when about nineteen, and formed a close friendship 
with Washington Allston; afterward opened studios successively 
in New York and Philadelphia: in consequence of failing health, 
removed with Allston, in the winter of 1800, to Charleston, 
S. C., where some of his best works were produced; accompa- 
nied Allston to London in May, 1801, and while there painted 
his largest and most celebrated miniature—‘‘The Hours,” now 
in Providence Atheneum—a group of three beautiful young 
girls representing the Past, the Present, and the Future. On 
returning to this country, Mr. Malbone chose Charleston for 
his permanent residence, visiting the North periodically. In 
1806, his health still failing, he sought relief in Jamaica, and 
finding none, started home, but died on reaching Savannah, on 
his way to Newport, May 7, 1807. He is ranked as the first 
among miniature painters. 


13 


SIR PETER WARREN 
(1703-1752) 


Made citizen of New York in 1731. Was the first proprietor 
of Greenwich Village. Sir Peter was married in 1731 at Trinity 
Church to Susan deLancey, daughter of Stephen deLancey. He 
was naval hero at the fall of Louisburg in 1745 and was made 
Rear-Admiral the same year. Born in Warrentown, County 
Heath, Ireland, in 1703. He died July 29, 1752. 

In 1731, the year this portrait of Sir Peter Warren was 
painted, he with James deLancey and others were presented 
with the freedom of the city. He was a member of the Council 
of New York under Governor Clinton from 1743 until his death 
in 1752. Sir Peter’s country house, built in 1740, was situated 
on the property now bounded by Bleecker, Fourth, Charles and 
Perry streets. It was the center of a large estate which extended 
down to the Hudson River. Here in 1753, the Subscription 
Plate was run for. This was one of the earliest horse races held 
within the limits of Manhattan. 


by John Watson ( 1685-1768 ) 


John Watson came to the Colonies in 1715 and set up his 
easel in the capital of New Jersey, Perth Amboy. The year in 


Se 


which he was born is found by the date of his death engraved 
on his tombstone, and the age at which he died. He was born in 
1685 and died in 1768. 

Sir Peter Warren, through his marriage into the deLancey 
family, had connections living in Perth Amboy, the home of the 
artist. For Elizabeth Van Cortlandt, youngest sister of Mrs. 
Stephen deLancey, the mother of Mrs. Warren had married in 
1727 the Rev. William Skinner, the first rector of St. Peters 
Church, Perth Amboy. Later, one of his sons, Lieut.-Col. 
William Skinner married his cousin Susan, youngest daughter 
of Sir Peter Warren. The Barberie and Kearny families also 
lived in Perth Amboy. They, too, were connections of the 
deLanceys, other branches of the family included. 

William Dunlap in his History of “The Arts of Design,” Vol. 
1, devotes four pages to the career of the artist John Watson. 


14 


STEPHANUS VAN CORTLANDT 
(1643-1700) 


FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN MAYOR 
OF NEW YORK CITY, 1677 


FIRST LORD OF THE MANOR 
OF CORTLANDT, 1697 


Painted in 1693 
by Evert Duyckinck, 1st (1621-1702 ) 


Evert Duyckinck, lst, came to New Amsterdam in 1638 from 
Holland. He is variously described in the records of the day 
as a limner, painter, glazier and burner of glass. He married in 
1646 Hendrickje Simons from Noordthorn. Was a member of 
the Dutch Church in 1649 and resided then and for many years 
in Hoogh Street (now Stone Street). He became fire warden in 
1674, and was admitted a freeman of the city in 1698. 

As late as 1700 the records refer to his glass making, and in 
certain grants of land under water made to Evert Duyckinck 
and his son Gerret, Evert is called a limner, and Gerret a painter. 

There is a portrait of Lieut.-Gov. William Stoughton by Evert 
Duyckinck, Ist, in the Boston Atheneum. 





15 


JOHN STEVENS 
(1708-1792) 
MEMBER OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 
1784 
FATHER OF JOHN STEVENS (1749-1838) 
OF CASTLE POINT 
by John Wollaston 


John Wollaston, an English portrait painter, visited the Colo- 
nies in the middle of the eighteenth century. Wollaston painted 
a great many portraits in New York, Philadelphia and the South 
from 1750 to 1767. His best portraits seem to have been 
painted in New York between 1751 and 1757. 


<9 


Excepting Number 6, all subjects named in this catalogue of fifteen early 
portraits resided at some period in New Amsterdam, or later in New York 
City. 

Ten of those indicated by numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15 were 
born in New York State. 


eee von ee 


THE COMMITTEE ON ART wishes to thank a for- 
mer Trustee of the Century Association for 
assembling the Early American portraits in the 
present Exhibition and for the preparation of 
the descriptive catalogue. 





